Michael Russo's short takes

November 2, 2013 - 4:50 PM

Gaborik job evaluation

The Columbus Blue Jackets haven’t had any contract talks regarding an extension for former Wild forward Marian Gaborik.

“I’d like to see him taking charge, driving the team with his example — not only with the points but with everything else he does,” GM Jarmo Kekalainen told the Columbus Dispatch. “I want to believe that even a 30-year-old or a 35-year-old player can get better, and that’s one area that I want to see more from him.

“I always say to players: Leave a legacy behind you as a great teammate, a great leader, a great example. Those are the areas he can do a lot more in, and I think he wants to, too. But if you want to be a leader, you have to do it every day.”

Introducing …

Alex Ovechkin, who has scored 31 percent of Washington’s goals, is out with what’s said to be a minor shoulder injury.

Dynamic Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson, the Norris Trophy winner two years ago, is upset the Ottawa media have been criticizing his defensive game: “You guys have lifted up the expectations pretty high,” he said. “You talk about me like I’m some kind of … god or something. It’s not easy to live up to that.”